The Settler's Revenge.

The recent retirement of Mr. L. Scott from the Railway Service calls to mind an incident which happened when he was Stationmaster at Ellesmere, in the Canterbury district. In the “New Zealand Times” of 27th August, 1906, appeared the following paragraph:—

“A wagtail's nest containing five eggs was found on a truck of coal at Ellesmere railway station. The nest had to be disturbed during unloading operations, and it was removed to another truck and surrounded with lumps of coal.”

This item was extracted by the then General Manager of the New Zealand Railways and sent to the Chief Traffic Manager, with the following comment:

“It takes two wagtails about five days to build a nest.

“It takes one wagtail at least five days to lay five eggs.

“How long was the truck of coal standing at Ellesmere waiting for the aforesaid wagtails to build the nest, etc.?

“Has the truck to which the nest was transferred been unloaded yet, or is it waiting for the eggs to be hatched out?

“What demurrage has been collected?

“Is it usual on the Canterbury Section to have wagons waiting for such long periods awaiting discharge?

“T. Ronayne, 28/8/1906.”

Mr. Scott, the Stationmaster, duly received the query, and replied (there was rapid correspondence in those days, whatever the turnover of wagons may have been), on 1st September:

“Re wagtail's nest being discovered on a truck of coal at Ellesmere Station. I know nothing about this discovery. There has been no discovery of eggs in a truck of coal since I have been at this station, not even of ordinary hens’ eggs. I think it is a wag's tale—some person gifted with a large imagination must have inserted this par in the paper.”

The then District Traffic Manager commented upon this in the following terms:

“The paragraph, like the wagtail's nest, is built on a non-existing foundation. As District Manager, I beg to state that trucks are not used for the purpose stated in the Canterbury district, and as one who is somewhat of a naturalist, with a knowledge of the Ellesmere district, I can assure the Department that wagtails do not exist in the country, and even if they did, it is yet, at the time of writing, a month too soon for these birds to lay their eggs.

“I rather fancy the paper has built the yarn on the following facts:

“On 30th July, Mr.——, of Ellesmere had to pay 10/- demurrage for having truck L1014 under load from 27th July to morning of 30th July. The matter was referred to me, but I would not remit the charge. The par in “N.Z. Times” is the result.

“S. F. Whitcombe,

“District Traffic Manager, 4/9/06.”

Mr. H. Buxton, who was Chief Traffic Manager at the time, filed the papers with the following pencilled note:-

“Record this alleged delay to truck of coal at Ellesmere. It may be quoted again.—H.B.”

We therefore take pleasure now in quoting it again, and feel sure that both Mr. Buxton and Mr. Scott, who, though retired from the service, are still interested in it, will enjoy this retelling of the “tale of a wagtail.”

Reciprocity at Oamaru.

At a mass meeting of railway employees held at Oamaru on 2nd September, a resolution was passed requesting all railway employees to reciprocate with those tradesmen who have their goods conveyed by rail.